ABSTRACT
Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality. Traditional diagnostic methods, including blood cultures, often result in delays in initiating appropriate treatment. Rapid diagnostic tools, such as biomarker-based assays and point-of-care testing, have been developed to enhance early detection and improve patient outcomes in emergency settings.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tools in the early detection of sepsis in emergency medicine and their impact on treatment initiation and patient outcomes.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Services Hospital, Lahore, from October 2023 to September 2024. The study included 50 patients who presented to the emergency department with suspected sepsis. Participants were assessed using conventional diagnostic methods alongside rapid diagnostic tools, including procalcitonin (PCT) assays, lactate measurements, and molecular diagnostic tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and time to diagnosis of these tools were analyzed, along with their influence on early treatment initiation and clinical outcomes.
Results: Rapid diagnostic tools significantly reduced the time to sepsis diagnosis compared to traditional methods (mean reduction: 4.2 hours, p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin assays were 89.4% and 87.1%, respectively, outperforming conventional blood cultures. Early initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy, facilitated by rapid diagnostics, improved patient survival rates and decreased intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Patients diagnosed using rapid tools exhibited a 22% lower mortality rate than those diagnosed with conventional methods.
Conclusion: The use of rapid diagnostic tools in emergency medicine markedly enhanced the early detection of sepsis, leading to timely treatment and improved clinical outcomes. Implementing these tools in routine emergency care settings could significantly reduce sepsis-related mortality and morbidity. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and optimize diagnostic protocols.
Keywords: Sepsis, Emergency Medicine, Rapid Diagnostic Tools, Procalcitonin, Point-of-Care Testing, Early Detection, Mortality Reduction